Top Ten Albums of 2024

Here we are at the end of another year, and it's time to dive into the albums that influenced and defined my 2024. This year was one of the most exciting years for pop music in recent memory and it's still hard to believe how much of an embarrassment of riches it really was. Seemingly every influential pop artist released a record this year, and many of them began, continued, or announced monumental tours that show off the compelling music they worked so hard to create. Narrowing down my favorite albums of the year to just ten has never been so difficult, and even as I write this, I question the final selections. But that's what made 2024 so electrifying for pop music and why this may be my favorite Top Ten list I've ever made. I can only dream that 2025 will bring about a collection of music half this good, but for now let's reminisce on the current year as it comes to a close and present my Top Ten Albums of 2024.

10. Tyla - Tyla

In 2023, the song "Water" permeated the internet with a tantalizing Tik Tok trend, ultimately leading to a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. The artist behind the soulful R&B mixed with smooth Afrobeats was none other than newcomer Tyla, a South African born artist who never could have dreamed of taking home a musician's most coveted prize with her first mainstream single. Near the start of the new year, the pop newcomer released her debut self-titled album, the full follow-up to her smash single. The record is a luscious display of the singer's signature Amapiano, a South African genre that blends house, jazz, kwaito, and other subgenres to create a silky yet driving sound that will simultaneously make you feel relaxed and ready to dance. Features on the album include Afrobeats superstar Tems, and Latin pop princess Becky G, but even those established acts can't overshadow Tyla's soulfully smooth vocals. She sings atop classic African drum patterns, booming bass lines and atmospheric melodies while delivering lyrics about love, lust and life. Although it may be easy for western music consumers to get lost in the sameness of the sounds, the more you immerse yourself in the world of Amapiano, the more you will find to love. At a mere 38 minutes it's a quick and easy listen, but that just means it's an album worth listening to on repeat.

Standout Tracks: "Safer", "Breathe Me", and "ART".

9. Don't Forget Me - Maggie Rogers

Over the years, seasoned pop music veteran Maggie Rogers has delivered sounds of folk, electronica, and grunge, but on Don't Forget Me, the singer-songwriter serves up something new here, simplicity. Reminiscent of the early work of Sheryl Crow, Don't Forget Me contains elements of soft pop-country and breezy melodies over simple guitar chords and muted drums. Teaming up with newfound collaborator Ian Fitchuk (Grammys producer of the year nominee), the duo took a striking five days to write and record the album at Electric Lady Studios in New York. The track list is in the exact order that the album was written, and many of the final recordings are also the first takes. Rogers trades polish and shine here for complete authenticity both in written composition and in vocal delivery, and the resulting collection of timeless songs shows just why. It is the singer's rawest work yet and the plainness provides a sort of clarity that isn't often found in the current musical landscape. Songs like "So Sick Of Dreaming" and "It Was Coming All Along" belong in a 2000s coming of age film, and the ballads "I Still Do" and "All The Same" are so jarringly uncomplicated that the listener has no choice but to just stop and take it all in. Flashy, this album is not, but it is quick to remind us that sometimes it's nice to slow down and find the beauty in simplicity.

Standout Tracks: "If Now Was Then", "The Kill", and "Don't Forget Me".

8. Short n' Sweet - Sabrina Carpenter

One of the biggest surprises of the year was witnessing in real time how long it can take to become an overnight success, and in the case of new pop darling Sabrina Carpenter, that's about 9 years. Carpenter released her debut album Eyes Wide Open in 2015, and in 2024 she finally saw her first real mainstream hit with Short n' Sweet. The album rides on the back of the 25-year-old singer's juggernaut anthem "Espresso", released as a promotional single for her viral Coachella performance. "Espresso" took off stronger than anyone expected, and at the time this is written, it is the frontrunner for Record of the Year at the 67th Grammy Awards. The song is silly, tongue-in-cheek, sexy and completely unserious, all attributes of the album as a whole. Most of these songs present a level of humor that's been missing from pop music since the reign of Katy Perry in the early 2010's, and it is the primary reason Sabrina Carpenter sets herself apart. Although Short n' Sweet does have some serious and somber offerings ("Sharpest Tool", "Dumb & Poetic", "Lie To Girls"), the charm of the record lies in its wit, comedy and lewdness. Many of the lyrics will make your mother gasp ("Come right on me, I mean camaraderie"), and that shock value is exactly what makes the otherwise standard pop tunes stand out in a big way. It may not be the most inventive pop album in recent memory, but it sure is a hell of a good time. You'll press play for the virality, but you'll stay for the singer's soft voice and charm.

Standout Tracks: "Juno", "Bed Chem" and "Good Graces".

7. Deeper Well - Kacey Musgraves

Put on your hiking shoes, grab a jacket and step outside into the Heart of the Woods. This year Kacey Musgraves forced us to slow down a little bit and just breathe it all in. If you thought Don't Forget Me was simple, just wait until you press play on the country singer-songwriter's newest installment, Deeper Well. This album invites you to sit down outside and just "Sway" to the breeze while listening to Musgraves' soft, angelic voice and airy songwriting. The songs on Deeper Well are completely bare bones, relying on acoustic guitars, psychedelic synths, and 70's inspired grooves. The lyrics are equally as raw, touching on themes of adulthood (namely her Saturn return), grief, melancholy memories, and of course, being in touch with nature. "Dinner With Friends" explores the idea of what the singer will miss most when she crosses to the other side, "Moving Out" reminisces on a previous home and all of the memories made there, and "The Architect" begs the ages old question, is there a creator, or is everything here by chance? On Deeper Well, Musgraves does what she does best: crafting songs that explore both the simple joys of life and the complex, often unspoken feelings that lie beneath the surface. Her ability to illicit profound emotions from life's everyday affairs is one of her superpowers, and the clarity in those sensations has never been felt more strongly than on her fifth studio album. The record may not quite live up to the transcendent experience of her 2018 installment Golden Hour, but honestly, it'll be hard for her to strike gold like that twice, and Deeper Well is the welcome return to form that gets us just close enough.

Standout Tracks: "Sway", "The Architect", and "Too Good To Be True". Also, be sure to check out "Arm's Length" from the deluxe version of the album.

6. Big Ideas - Remi Wolf

"Me and the boys in the hotel lobby!" From the moment you hear "Cinderella", the opening track of Big Ideas, you'll have those lyrics stuck in your head for days. And that's the story of this entire project, an infectious and euphoric collection of ear worms that are just undeniably fun and refreshing. Remi Wolf is not necessarily a newcomer in the music scene (she debuted with her album Juno in 2022), but because Big Ideas is so fresh and innovative, it serves as a bold reintroduction to the artist. The album relies heavily on a blend of funk, psychedelics, soul and pop, but its refusal to commit to one genre makes it an intoxicating experience. Lyrically, this album occasionally borders on nonsensical and confusing, but Wolf's powerful vocal delivery and the accompanying instrumental sounds make up for any uncertainty in the messages. If the goal here was to create a soundscape that makes the listener feel joyous, exhilarated, and free of any inhibitions, then this album accomplishes exactly that. The aforementioned "Cinderella" along with "Toro", "Pitiful", and bonus track "Slay Bitch" offer so many danceable moments that it's almost impossible to sit still while listening. "Wave", and "When I Thought Of You" delve into pop-punk while "Cherries & Cream" takes you back to the 1970's. But it is "Soup", the albums central anthem that will keep you coming back more and more. It is not only the best song on the album, but one of the best pop songs of the whole year. With the release of so much introspective music following COVID, an album full of uplifting bangers and feel-good themes is exactly what we needed, and Remi Wolf delivered on that need tenfold.

Standout Tracks: "Soup", "Wave", and "Toro".

5. Cowboy Carter - Beyoncé

The year is 2016, and Beyoncé has been invited to perform her country crossover song "Daddy Lessons" with The Chicks at the annual CMA awards. The performance is electrifying and accompanied by the highest rated 15-minute segment of the show's history, but due to racist outcry and unwelcoming country fans, it was wiped from all of the brand's social media and ignored by the network. Nearly a decade following the controversial performance, the pop superstar sought out retribution for this discriminatory event. Cowboy Carter is the poignant result of years of doubt that Beyoncé, a Texan, can deliver as a convincing country artist. On the album, the powerhouse vocalist delivers a history lesson on the evolution of country music and sets out to reclaim the genre for its roots in the black community. She conveys a striking message of inequity, narrow-mindedness, and bigotry throughout a sprawling 78-minute journey through time, stopping at important vignettes in the genre's history and adopting each different vocal and musical style with incredible ease. The time the artist spent researching and curating the perfect collection of songs that carry the weight of the subject material shows unmistakably in the album. Skeptics of the record critique its seemingly unedited runtime and its focus on making a point rather than listenability, but ultimately the power in Cowboy Carter truly is its storytelling. And although it is a hard album to regularly digest in one sitting, its distinct sectioning and undeniable melodies make it hard to fully put down. Her ability to make such bold statements in her music is one of her greatest strengths, and the album's thesis "For things to stay the same, they have to change again" remind us why Beyoncé continues to strive for excellence over two decades into her career, to enact necessary change in a continually divided world.

Standout Tracks: "Ameriican Requiem", "Tyrant", "II Hands II Heaven", and "Ya Ya".

4. Eternal Sunshine - Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande's 2024 was possibly the best year of her career so far. Of course, much of her success is due to the quality and popularity of Wicked, but earlier in the year, the dynamic vocalist and performer released perhaps her best and most vulnerable studio album to date, Eternal Sunshine. Loosely based on the Academy Award winning film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the record follows a heartbreaking story of love and loss and the desire to erase the once fond memories of a loved one. Written, recorded, and produced in a short period of time during the SAG-AFTRA strike last fall, Eternal Sunshine captures a brief moment in the artist's life where her previous marriage was ending, and a new flame was beginning. Songs such as "Bye", "Eternal Sunshine", "I Wish I Hated You", and "Don't Wanna Break Up Again" detail the end of her marriage and the cruel treatment Grande had to endure (the latter song paints a picture of her falling asleep crying while her ex turns up the TV to drown her out). Meanwhile songs such as "The Boy Is Mine" and "Imperfect For You" delve into the spark of her new relationship, with the former playfully leaning into the villain narrative that the public put onto her amidst unfair gossip. And speaking of public opinion, the cornerstone of the album, "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" puts Ariana Grande's vulnerability and raw feelings on full display, expanding upon her relationship with her fans and the wider masses, and pleading that she is not the picture we have painted her to be. Narrative themes aside, the songs are stunningly beautiful and incredibly cohesive. The vocalist trades high belts, whistle tones and impressive melisma for simplicity and pure tones, highlighting her words more than ever. It is a tragic and tender display of passion unlike anything she's explored before, and it results in a career highpoint not soon to be forgotten.

Standout Tracks: "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)", "Don't Wanna Break Up Again", and "The Boy Is Mine".

3. Imaginal Disk - Magdalena Bay

In 2021, a little-known alt-pop duo by the name of Magdalena Bay released their debut full-length project entitled Mercurial World. Although the album did not gain much traction in the charts or with the general public, the pair was able to garner a very niche following amongst music critics and fans of art-pop and avant-garde electronic music. Throughout the 3 years since, the band has expanded their fan-base, and in the third quarter of 2024, they dropped their highly anticipated follow-up Imaginal Disk. The album is a concept record that imagines a character receiving a compact disk inserted into her forehead as a way of programming her ideal self. Throughout the runtime we watch as the character rejects this technology and embraces her humanity. The concept is certainly unique, and although it is not explicitly laid out in the music, ultimately the story is secondary to the extraordinary musical content. Imaginal Disk is a maximalist synth-pop epic that incorporates elements of disco, progressive rock and shoegaze. The duo (made up of 28-year-old Mica Tanenbaum and 29-year-old Matthew Lewin) take influence from artists such as Charli xcx, Grimes, and Chairlift to deliver an experimental collection of songs that transport the listener to a different dimension. The sounds are ethereal, disorienting, and occasionally uncomfortable, but the result is always the same, mesmerizing. It is some of the most inventive and fresh pop music to come out of the 21st century and it is sure to open up an entire world of exploration in the genre. "She Looked Like Me!", "Fear, Sex", "Tunnel Vision", and "Watching T.V." lean into the other-worldly soundscape mentioned above while "Image", "Death & Romance", That's My Floor", and "Cry For Me" will have you living out your prog-rock and ABBA fantasies. The songs are astoundingly good, and they only get better and better with every subsequent listen. It may not be an easily digestible project, but it is sure to reward those who immerse themselves in the whimsical and innovative soundscape that Magdalena Bay has created.

Standout Tracks: "Image", "Death & Romance", and "Tunnel Vision"

2. Brat - Charli xcx

"kamala IS brat". On the surface, this may seem like a fun and unassuming tweet from earlier this July, but what that one tweet was able to capture is unlike anything we've seen in pop music for years. Of course, the tweet was posted by Charli xcx, singer and experimental hyper-pop pioneer, to indicate her feelings toward the VP entering the race for the presidency this summer. Only a month prior to the now famous post, the Essex-born singer released her sixth studio album, Brat, an outstanding musical culmination of a decade's-worth of innovation and metamorphosis that truly took the world by storm. Never before has Charli xcx been able to achieve this kind of mass critical and commercial appeal. She has previously spent most of her career in the underground cutting-edge pop scene, but somehow Brat was able to push her to the mainstream. Naturally, Kamala HQ adopting the Brat branding, the famous lime green and blurry typeface, helped put the album in the forefront, but it was the music that made the acclaim last. It takes heavy influence from the 2000's English rave scene and club music and spins it into something much more vulnerable. Each song has a BPM that will make your pulse rush, but underneath the booming bass and ear-piercing electronic sounds is the story of a notable party girl experiencing real-life hardships and tricky adult growing pains. "I Think About It All The Time" and "I Might Say Something Stupid" showcase these narratives best, detailing her uncertainty about bringing a child into the world and the gut-wrenching feeling of saying all the wrong things during moments of drug-fueled euphoria respectively. Highlights "Sympathy Is A Knife" and "Girl, So Confusing" explore the impossible situation women are presented with to always lift each other up while ignore the very human feelings of jealousy and rivalry. What sets this album cycle apart is its marketing, including the remix album Brat and it's completely different but also still brat, which brings on a slew of A-list musicians to reimagine the full tracklist. Namely, Charli xcx enlists the help of Lorde, the inspiration for the aforementioned "...so confusing" to "work it out on the remix" and make amends while creating one of the biggest hits of the year. It's impossible to summarize the impact of this album and its accompanying "Brat Summer" in one paragraph, but the record will endure for years to come and will forever set the bar high for the genre in terms of quality and virality.

Standout Tracks: "Sympathy Is A Knife", "365", and "Von Dutch".

Honorable Mentions

Before we dive into my pick for the best album of 2024, let's explore some other projects that are deserving of attention but didn't quite make the list. Here are my four honorable mentions of 2024.

Patterns - Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini is such an exciting artist in country music, with her ability to blend genres and styles and deliver heart-wrenching and personal lyrics without falling too hard into the standard country music tropes. Patterns, although not the star's best album to date, is a great example of Ballerini's songwriting prowess and her proclivity for making country music more palatable to the mainstream. Highlights include "WAIT!", "How Much Do You Love Me", and "Baggage".

What Happened To The Heart? - Aurora

An experimental amalgamation of genres, sounds, and thematic content, What Happened To The Heart? by witchy Norwegian singer Aurora delivers a profound work of art that begs the question, when did the heart become no more than an organ? Her ethereal voice soars over acoustic guitars, booming synths, and disjointed percussion across the record and covers themes of human disconnection, our desperate desire for community, and disbelief in how violent we have become in certain parts of the world ("Ceasefire Now!", she screams on "My Body Is Not Mine"). Highlights include "Starvation", "To Be Alright", and "Some Type of Skin".

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology - Taylor Swift

Since the inception of my Top Ten Albums list in 2013, Taylor Swift has never missed the top ten, until this year. The Tortured Poets Department simultaneously has some outstanding career highlights for Swift while also containing some of the most disjointed, self-indulgent and long-winded songs she's ever written. The album has a desperate need for an editor, but you can't discount some of the gold she struck throughout the sprawling 2-hour epic. Although it will not go down as one of my favorite Swift projects, the standouts alone earn TTPD an honorable mention on this list. Highlights include "But Daddy I Love Him", "Guilty As Sin?", "The Black Dog", "Down Bad", and "I Look In People's Windows".

Clancy - Twenty One Pilots

Coming off of the lukewarm reception of 2021 record Scaled & Icy, Twenty One Pilots set out to make a grand return to form, and that's exactly what they did with Clancy. Packed with lore callbacks from 2018's Trench, the album reminds fans why they got into the alternative duo's music in the first place. It's bold, upbeat, guitar heavy, and it ultimately fits right into the pocket of what makes Twenty One Pilots one of the great rock acts of the past ten years. Highlights include "Navigating", "Vignette", and "Midwest Indigo".

1. Hit Me Hard And Soft - Billie Eilish

The rarity of a single 10 track album to permeate the mainstream so ubiquitously cannot be overstated, but in 2024, my pick for Album of the Year did exactly this. Billie Eilish has now been one of the biggest stars on the planet for five years, but never has her presence been so influential as it was this year with the release of her third studio album Hit Me Hard And Soft. The two-time Oscar and nine-time Grammy award winner may only be 22 years old, but this may very well be her magnum opus. The record is an absolute masterclass in songwriting, melodic composition, lyrical specificity and, most of all, production. In just under 45 minutes, Eilish is able to pack in a thrilling and immersive collection of sounds that are not only spellbinding to listen to, but also heartbreaking and devastating to relate to. The singer's brother and songwriting/production partner Finneas is at his outright peak here, delivering captivating walls of sound, but also softer and more tender moments that evoke raw emotion unlike anything the pair has done previously. On Hit Me Hard And Soft, Billie Eilish was forced to come into her own, taking on more of the responsibility in songwriting and production than ever before, and it is her stronger presence and sensibility that makes this her most successful album to date. Eilish also pushed herself to take her voice to new heights in this record, specifically on album standout, and what I believe to be her best song ever, "Birds of a Feather". It is a soaring and anthemic song that on the service may feel more conventionally pop than they've ever been, but is realistically a complex and intricate tune that truly demonstrates just how smart the pair are. But the intricacies of the album do not stop there. "Chihiro", "L'amour De Ma Vie", "Bittersuite" and "Blue" all showcase a songwriting sharpness that is both exciting and shocking, with quick switch ups that make the tracks feel like multiple songs in one. Billie and Finneas continually keep you guessing throughout the entire runtime, leaving you to find something new with every subsequent listen. Hit Me Hard And Soft is such a stunning piece of art, that it will surely have you repeating the album's final line "But when can I hear the next one?".

Standout Tracks: "Birds of a Feather", "Chihiro", and "Blue".